Hello, Dodgers fans. Let’s hope the winter has treated you well, whether it be completing a “Sopranos” rewatch (as the author of this story did) or simply rewatching World Series highlights. The Los Angeles Dodgers have certainly basked in the glory of a second title in the past five seasons, but this winter has a different, more rare feat at the forefront. No team in baseball has won the World Series in consecutive years since the 1998-2000 New York Yankees. The only thing more challenging than winning a title is winning another.
With that in mind, you all have questions pertinent to the 2025 Dodgers. Let’s address some of them. This is Part 1 of what will be a two-part mailbag.
Note: Submitted questions have been edited for clarity and length.
Teoscar Hernández. What seems to be the holdup? — Jose G.
Hernández remains unsigned. The fact that it’s still the case in mid-December qualifies as at least a mild surprise, given Hernández’s clear desire to return to Los Angeles and how apparent a fit he still is with the roster as constructed. Moving Mookie Betts back to the infield, seemingly clearing Hernández a spot in right field, only further makes the Dodgers a fit.
There has been plenty written about Hernández but seemingly little has tangibly changed. Los Angeles still appears to be the most likely landing spot. Hernández is still seeking a three-year deal with an average annual value between $22 million and $24 million, according to a person briefed on negotiations. The Dodgers have often talked about the idea of using deferrals as a means of bridging a gap in negotiations in the past — and it worked last year, with Hernández deferring money in his one-year deal. But so far, the gap hasn’t been bridged with whatever offers have gone back and forth.
If the Dodgers lose on the Teo sweepstakes, is Anthony Santander a consideration? — Daniel Y.
Here’s the thing: when the Dodgers signed Hernández last winter, it was somewhat of a departure from the way the organization has approached free agency with that class of player. They’ve sought out stars and found reclamation projects, but haven’t often committed multiple years to productive non-star veterans.
While Hernández qualified as a hit, I don’t know if Santander qualifies as the type of free agent they’d go after should Hernández go elsewhere. While largely similar archetypes, Hernández is a slightly better defender in right field and his hitting profile is more well-rounded than Santander’s power-centric approach. Santander is talented (and younger than Hernández), but I wonder if the Dodgers’ pivot goes more toward a corner outfielder on a one-year deal or a trade market that still includes intriguing outfield names even after Kyle Tucker and former Dodger Cody Bellinger came off the board. Depending on how the Dodgers value Luis Robert, he might answer some questions for them in center field, too.
How close was the Devin Williams trade to going through? — Amanda G.
If Williams’ comments after the trade have any merit, then it’s fair to say that a deal was close. The Dodgers certainly had interest in Williams, even if their priority was free-agent lefty Tanner Scott (who remains unsigned). My understanding is the Brewers sought major-league-ready pieces, particularly on the pitching side, to keep their perpetual motion machine going: remaining competitive in the NL Central with their level of spending. Nestor Cortes certainly fits that bill on paper (and they get six years of club control over utilityman Caleb Durbin), though it’s unclear what exactly the Dodgers offered for one year of Williams.
Is there still a possibility for Nolan Arenado to be traded to the Dodgers? — Jenny K.
I addressed this last week at the Winter Meetings. For as much as Arenado seems to be interested in the Dodgers, the organization hasn’t shown much interest for some logical reasons: Max Muncy has been more productive the past two seasons at a much lower cost. The botched trade to the Houston Astros showed that the St. Louis Cardinals would be willing to pay down some of Arenado’s contract, but how much would they have to pay down to entice the Dodgers — and does that point no longer make it worth it for the Cardinals, who are looking to shed salary?
Even if a deal came together, it’s hard to see where the pieces fit. Sure, Muncy has played second base before — but that came before shift restrictions. Evaluating his potential fit there now is a completely different proposition than when he played there last in 2022.
Are the Dodgers going to re-sign Kiké Hernández? He seems like one of those glue guys and can still be productive. One of the most popular Dodgers ever. — Jason C.
The beauty of a player like Kiké Hernández is that he fits just about everywhere. That’s what versatility buys you. The problem is finding a fit if the Dodgers bring back Teoscar Hernández. Michael Conforto’s addition soaks up some at-bats. The Dodgers presumably would like to get Andy Pages some run, be it in a corner without Teoscar Hernández or as a fourth outfielder. The Dodgers also still have Chris Taylor under contract; for as much as Taylor struggled last season, it’ll be hard to see a team willing to take him on (even if the Dodgers wind up having to take on a chunk of the contract, which is in its last guaranteed year).
Hernández lingered for a while on the free-agent market last winter, coming off a down year and with a hernia surgery. He didn’t have a better regular season, even though he once again was a hero come October. Expect him to have a market among contenders, much like he did last year when he chose between the Dodgers and Yankees during spring training.
Why no news on Clayton Kershaw? — Ron T.
Because there doesn’t really need to be any. Kershaw has already said he will be back with the Dodgers no matter what, and there’s no benefit to having him occupy a 40-man roster spot before players can be placed on the 60-day injured list (which Kershaw surely will be after knee and toe surgeries).
Why are they taking so long to give Dave Roberts an extension? — Joe M.
The party line for the Dodgers has been consistent — they’ll handle the player acquisition portion of the offseason before addressing an extension with Roberts. For one, Roberts is not going anywhere. He is under contract through 2025. The Dodgers were in a similar spot the last go-around when they waited until after the lockout lifted and they signed Freddie Freeman and re-signed Kershaw to hand Roberts a three-year extension.
An extension should be expected and at this point, it would be hard to foresee Roberts deserving anything less than a top-flight level compensation. Roberts and Bruce Bochy are the lone active managers with multiple World Series rings to their name, and Roberts’ track record in the regular season is unparalleled.
When are you coming to Bluesky? — Bob C.
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(Photo: Alex Slitz / Getty Images)
